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Policing gets down to business

Tim Milsom, Brad Sorrell and Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt at the launch of the new Business Beat initiative last week.

The joint initiative, involving the WA Police, the City of Fremantle and the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce, was launched last Wednesday to improve communication between businesses and police and make Fremantle safer.

As part of the initiative, businesses will be given a range of information and training to help them protect their property, profits and staff from things like shoplifters, armed holdups, break-ins and anti-social behaviour in and around their businesses.

South Metropolitan District superintendent Brad Sorrell said their aim was to provide effective policing through the community.

‘We want to manage the public perception of the police and there are always things that police can do to better,’ he said.

‘The common thread is community engagement and working with the business community to improve things.’

Fremantle Police officer-in-charge Darren Wynne said the initiative was another resource designed to improve safety in the area and prevent crime.

‘It is a great way for businesses to educate staff on safety, protect their property and assets and give the opportunity to police to give ongoing information to the business community,’ he said.

‘Police rely on information from the public and the more we know the more we can help because a safer community will bring more people to the area.’

Chamber of Commerce chief executive Tim Milsom said this was the latest in a number of initiatives introduced to improve safety in the area, including increasing the amount of CCTV cameras and increasing the amount of police on foot patrols.